As AI evolves, educators must be proactive in shaping how it is used, write Dr. Steve Baule, Dillon Martinez, Dr. Shauna Mayer, and Dr. Ray Martinez in an eSchool News essay.
Instructional coaches play a pivotal role in guiding teachers on AI’s implementation. As trusted mentors and professional development leaders, they guide teachers in implementing AI tools thoughtfully, ensuring that technology enhances student learning while aligning with pedagogical best practices.
Ten instructional coaches, all with advanced degrees, had these insights into the instructional use of AI in K12 education:
- The most-cited AI applications include providing feedback on student work, creating professional development materials, supporting writing and content generation, creating course content, and enhancing accessibility for students with special needs.
- AI tools assist in grading assignments, offer real-time feedback, and support differentiated instruction.
- AI-powered feedback helps teachers provide more personalized responses without increasing their workload.
- Regarding professional development, AI generates training content for teachers, ensuring they stay updated on educational trends. Coaches are leveraging AI to curate research, synthesize best practices, and develop instructional strategies tailored to their schools.
- Teachers and students are encouraged to use AI for brainstorming, outlining essays, and improving writing mechanics.
- Most instructional coaches express positive expectations regarding AI’s potential to reduce educator workload, create personalized learning experiences, and improve access for students with disabilities.
- Perspectives on AI’s overall impact on education varies. Most believe AI has positively influenced instruction, but some remain cautious about its potential risks.
- One coach suggests that allowing students to utilize the tools in a structured setting and teaching them to use AI as a tool is one of the biggest potentials for generative AI in education.
- About three-fourths of coaches feel that AI will reduce teacher workload by automating repetitive tasks such as grading and data analysis.
Concerns
- Instructional coaches raised concerns about AI’s potential drawbacks, including ethical dilemmas, student engagement challenges, and equity issues.
- Instructional coaches worry some students will use AI tools without critically engaging with the material, leading to passive learning and an overreliance on generative tools.
- Some have concerns that AI-generated content could reduce the need for creativity and independent thought.
- Coaches worry that AI makes it easier for students to plagiarize or rely on generated answers without truly understanding concepts which can negatively impact academic integrity.
- Coaches also cite technical challenges. Educators face issues with AI tool reliability, compatibility with existing learning management systems (LMS), and steep learning curves. Some schools lack the infrastructure to support meaningful widespread AI integration.
- Ethical and privacy concerns are mentioned. AI tools collect and store student data, raising concerns about data privacy and security–particularly with younger students who may be less aware or concerned about revealing personally identifiable information (PII).
- Coaches see the need for clear guidelines on responsible AI use to prevent bias and misinformation.
Guardrails
- Coaches emphasize the importance of verifying AI-generated materials for accuracy. They suggest teachers be encouraged to cross-check AI-produced responses before using them in instruction. They recommend robust integrating discussions on digital literacy, AI biases, and the ethical implications of generative AI into classroom conversations.
- Schools need to train educators and students on responsible AI usage. Some schools restrict AI for creative writing, critical thinking exercises, and certain assessments to ensure students develop their own ideas–an idea that coaches recommend.
- Coaches suggest embedding AI literacy into existing courses, ensuring students understand how AI works, its limitations, and its ethical implications.
- Equity concerns are a serious issue for instructional coaches. Schools should ensure all students have equal access to AI tools. AI should be leveraged to bridge learning gaps, not widen them.
- Making sure all students have access to the same suite of tools is essential to create a level playing field for all learners.
- Instructional coaches generally agree that AI is not just a passing trend, but an integral part of the future of education.
- There is a concern that generative AI tools will reduce the human interaction of the teaching and learning process. For instance, interpersonal relationships are not developed with AI-based tutoring systems in the same way they can be developed and encouraged with traditional tutoring processes.
- Instructional coaches largely recognize AI’s potential to enhance learning, improve efficiency, academic integrity, and maintain human-centered learning experiences.
As AI continues to evolve, educators must be proactive in shaping how it is used, ensuring it serves as a tool for empowerment rather than dependency. Future efforts should focus on professional development for educators, AI literacy training for students, and policies ensuring equitable AI access across diverse school settings.
eSchool News
